Search using multi-faceted reputation information

ABSTRACT

A method and a system for searching objects using reputation information are provided. Example embodiments may include presenting multiple reputation dimensions and multiple attributes related to each of the reputation dimensions to a user. The method may also include detecting user selections of reputation dimensions and attributes related to the reputation dimensions and including selected attributes related to the reputation dimensions as criteria parts of search queries. Some example embodiments may include conducting a search of a database of objects using the search query to generate search results.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments relate generally to the technical field of datamanagement, and in one specific example, to a system for performingsearch using multifaceted information.

BACKGROUND

The Internet technologies and their widespread use have made it possiblefor many people to participate in online trade activities. Manycompanies facilitate trade on servers connected to users over one ormore networks, typically including the Internet. The users buying and/orselling items over these networks loosely comprise a marketplacecommunity within an electronic environment. A distinction betweennon-electronic selling practices such as traditional stores and currentelectronic selling mechanisms is the component of anonymity inherent inan electronic environment, which is not always conducive to forming atrusting environment in which two or more users wish to form a businessrelationship.

To overcome some reservations about the anonymity component within theelectronic marketplace community and to provide incentives forparticipating in transactions within electronic marketplaces, Internetmarketplaces, such as auction sites run by eBay, Inc. of San Jose,Calif., provide feedback ratings generated from feedback between users.A user's feedback rating may indicate the user's reputation within theelectronic community and provides some indication of the trustworthinessand responsiveness of that user. A representation of a user's feedbackrating may be displayed along with a business transaction request by theuser.

Feedback ratings may provide a useful mechanism for indicating a levelof user's trustworthiness or past participation within an electroniccommerce forum. Users desire to increase their feedback ratings becausethey are one indication of a user's reputation in the electroniccommunity, and users with high feedback ratings may enjoy expandedopportunities to transact business and obtain higher profits or accessto more goods and services. To further motivate the earning of a highfeedback rating, some marketplace providers give awards or identify theusers whose feedback ratings have reached a certain value, or who areamong some number of users with the highest feedback ratings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a high level diagram depicting an example embodiment of asystem for conducting multifaceted search for objects using reputationinformation;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of amultifaceted search system using reputation information;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a methodof searching for objects using reputation information;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting an example embodiment of a method forsorting the search results of the method of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating in an example embodiment of sets ofreputation dimensions associated with sellers, buyers, and serviceproviders;

FIG. 6 is a screen shot illustrating an example embodiment of a userinterface including reputation dimensions in search options;

FIG. 7 is a screen shot illustrating an example embodiment of a userinterface including reputation dimensions in the search options anddisplaying search results sorted based on selected reputationdimensions;

FIG. 8 is high level block diagram illustrating an example embodiment ofa network-based commerce system, having a client-server architecture,using reputation information for multifaceted search for objects;

FIG. 9 is an example set of marketplace and multifaceted searchapplications used by the network-based commerce system of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a diagrammatic representation ofa machine in the example form of a computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example methods and systems for searching for objects using reputationinformation have been described. In the following description, forpurposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of example embodiments. Itwill be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details.

For the purpose of present application, the term “reputation dimension”shall be taken to include, but not be limited to, various aspects ofreputation information associated with an entity participating in anactivity (e.g., overall performance, cost of shipping, timeliness,communication, quality of advertisements, quality of listingdescriptions, quality of packaging, quality of services provided, andthe like).

Some embodiments described herein may include searching databases ofobjects (e.g., items, services, etc.) using some reputation dimensionsand their related attributes (e.g., feedback scores, percentage ratings,overall feedback ratings such as a weighted average of feedback scores,positive and negative comments, etc.) as part of search query. Thefeedbacks received from trading parties may be analyzed and the resultof the analysis (e.g., in the form of attributes of the reputationdimensions) may be presented to users for selection. The selectedreputation dimensions and related attributes may then be included in thesearch criteria. This refinement of search may be conducive toenhancement of the user's confidence in certain qualifications of athird party (e.g., a potential trading party).

In some example embodiments, a method may include presenting multiplereputation dimensions and attributes, related to each of the reputationdimensions, to users. The reputation dimensions may include thereputation dimensions related to a marketplace participant (e.g.,seller, buyer, service provider, or client) or participant in some othernetwork-based activity (e.g., online gaming, social or businessnetworking etc.). A method may also include detecting user selections ofa reputation dimensions and attributes related to the reputationdimension.

The selected attributes related to reputation dimensions may then beincluded as a criterion part of a search query when conducting a searchof a database of objects using the search query to generate searchresults. The criterion part of the search query may be used to filterthe database of objects in order to limit the number of objects includedin the search results.

In an example embodiment, a method may include sorting the searchresults, using a selected reputation dimension (e.g. selected by a userfrom a list of reputation dimensions presented to the user) anddisplaying sorted search results. An example method may includeproviding a notification message to the user when an attribute of areputation dimension other than the reputation dimensions selected bythe user transgresses a threshold (e.g., one of the feedback ratings oran overall feedback rating falls below a predefined lower limit orexceeds a predefined higher limit).

According to some example embodiments, a reputation dimension mayinclude transaction participation aspects for which feedback isavailable (e.g., overall performance, cost of shipping, timeliness,communication, quality of advertisements, quality of listingdescriptions, quality of packaging, quality of services provided, andthe like). A selected attribute related to a reputation dimension mayinclude feedback ratings and comments corresponding to the reputationdimension (e.g., feedback scores, percentage ratings, overall feedbackrating, positive and negative comments, etc.).

In one example embodiment, a method may include receiving detailedfeedback ratings by requesting a feedback giver to respond to specificquestions relating to certain transaction participation aspects (e.g.,what aspect of the shipping and handling the feedback giver was leastsatisfied with, or what specific qualification of a seller the feedbackgiver appreciates the most, etc.). This kind of granular feedback may beuseful for a user to obtain a better understanding of the qualificationsof a respective trading party.

FIG. 1 is a high level diagram depicting an example embodiment of asystem 100 for conducting multifaceted search for objects usingreputation information. The system 100 may include a user 110, a usercomputer 120, a server 170, a network 180 and a user interface 130. Theuser computer 120 is linked to the server 170 via the network 180 (e.g.,the Internet). The server 170 may include a database of objects that theuser 110 may be interested in searching.

The user 110 may use the user computer 120 to go online and provideinput to a page provided by the server 170 to search for an object. Theexample user interface 130 may be provided by the server 170 to the user110 to search for an object using reputation information. The userinterface 130 depicts a search-box 140, multiple reputation dimensions150, and list-boxes 190, which may list attributes 160 related to eachof the reputation dimensions 150.

The user 110 may select any of the reputation dimensions 150 to be usedin the search for the object. In addition, in the list-boxes 190, undereach selected reputation dimension(s) 150, the user 110 may select anyattributes 160 related to the selected reputation dimensions 150 thatthe user may want to be used for the search of the object. The server170 may use the selected reputation dimensions and the selectedattributes related to the selected reputation dimensions as a criterionpart of a query used to search for the object.

In an example embodiment, the object may be an item (e.g., a data itemor a described physical item) or a service. The object may also belisted in an online marketplace, for example. The reputation dimension150, for example, may include overall performance, cost of shipping,timeliness, communication, quality of advertisement, quality of alisting description, quality of packaging, quality of service providedand the like. Reputation dimension attributes 160 may include feedbackscores, percentage ratings, overall feedback ratings such as a weightedaverage of feedback scores, positive and negative comments, etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of amultifaceted search system 200 using reputation information. The searchsystem 200 may include a user interface module 210, a detection module220, a database server 230, a database 240, a search engine 250, a sortmodule 260 and a notification module 270.

The user interface module 210 may present to the user 110 the userinterface 130, on which the user 110 may search for an object usingreputation dimension 150 and related attributes 160 to be used as partof a search criterion in searching for the object. The user 110 may alsoselect any of the reputation dimensions 150 presented in the userinterface 130 to be applied in the search criteria used to search forthe object. The user 110 also has the option of selecting any attribute160 related to the selected reputation dimension (s) 150 to be includedin the search criteria for the search.

The detection module 220 may detect the selected reputation dimensions150 and the selected related attributes 160 by the user 110. The searchengine 250 may use the selected reputation dimension(s) 150 and theattributes 160 detected by the detection module 220, as part of thesearch query used to search the database 240 of objects via the databaseserver 230.

In an example embodiment, the search engine 250 may use other searchcriteria not shown in the user interface 130. According to some exampleembodiments, the user 110 may require to have the search result sorted,based on the selected reputation dimensions 150 and the attributes 160selected by the user 110. The sort module 260 may sort the searchresults using the selected reputation dimension(s) 150 (e.g., selectedby the user 110 from a list of reputation dimension 150 presented to theuser.) The sort module 260 may send the sorted results to the userinterface module 210 for display to the user 110.

In an example embodiment, the notification module 270 may provide anotification message to the user 110, in case where an attribute 160 ofa reputation dimension other than the reputation dimensions 150 selectedby the user transgresses a threshold (e.g., one of the feedback ratingsor an overall feedback rating falls below a predefined lower limit orexceeds a pre-defined higher limit). The notification message providedby the notification module 270 may be passed to the user interfacemodule 210 to be displayed in an appropriate location in the userinterface 130 presented to the user 110.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a method300 of searching for objects using reputation information. The method300 starts at operation 310, where the user interface module 210presents to the user 110, via a user interface 130, one or morereputation dimensions 150 and one or more attributes 160 related to eachof the reputation dimensions 150. The user 110 then may select any ofthe reputation dimensions 150, as well as the attributes 160 related tothe selected reputation dimension(s) 150, to be used in the search querywhen searching for the object.

At operation 320, the detection module 220 may detect the user 110selection of the reputation dimensions 150 and attributes 160 related tothe selected reputation dimension(s) 150. In an example embodiment, atoperation 330, the search engine 250 may include the selected reputationdimension(s) 150 and selected attribute(s) 160, related to the selectedreputation dimension(s) 150, as a criterion part of a search query andconduct a search of a database 240 of objects, using the database server230, to generate search results.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting an example embodiment of a method 400for sorting the search results of the method of FIG. 4. The method 400starts at operation 410 where the sort module 260 checks the detectedreputation dimension 150, selected by the user 110 and detected by thedetection module 220, to determine if any of the reputation dimensions150 have been selected by the user.

In control operation 420, it is determined whether the user 110 hasselected at least one of the reputation dimensions 150 to be included inthe search query of the object. At operation 430, the sort module 260may sort the search results produced by the search engine 250 accordingto the selected reputation dimension(s) 150 as shown in more detail inFIG. 7.

In an example embodiment, in a case where the user 110 did not selectany of the reputation dimensions presented via the user interface 130,then the sort module 260 may sort the results produced by the searchengine 250, based on some default reputation dimensions not selected bythe user 110, or even not presented to the user 110 via user interface130.

At control operation 450, the notification module 270, may determinethat one or more reputation dimensions, associated with a party otherthan the reputation dimension(s) 150 selected by the user 110, havetransgressed a threshold (e.g., one of the feedback ratings or anoverall feedback rating has fallen below a predefined lower limit, orhas exceeded a predefined higher limit). This determination may be basedon the information received from the detection module 220 and theexisting information stored on the database 240. In that case, atoperation 460, the notification module 270 may provide a notificationmessage via the user interface module 210 to the user 110.

In an example embodiment, the user interface module 210 may accordinglyinclude the notification message in the user interface 130 in order tonotify user 110. The notification message may be displayed as a footnoteor adjacent to the name of the party.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of sets 500 ofreputation dimensions 150 associated with sellers, buyers, and serviceproviders. The reputation information stored in a database 240 mayinclude feedback information related to sellers, buyers, or serviceproviders.

In some embodiments, the feedback information pertaining to sellers mayrelate to one or more of the reputation dimensions 150 listed in box510, including shipping and handling, listing description, timeliness,and communication. The shipping and handling reputation dimension, forexample, may indicate that the seller had negative feedback relating tosome shipping and handling aspects such as shipment timing, or qualityof packaging. The listing description aspect may correspond, forexample, to a vague description of a listed item or a descriptionlacking some key features of the listed items, etc.

An example list 520 presents some example reputation dimensionspertaining to buyers that may have received feedback from the sellers ofthe items. These reputation dimensions may be related to timeliness inpayment, communications, and returns. Concerning the returns, the sellermight have provided comments regarding the quality of the packaging of areturned item or the status of the returned item received from a buyer,compared to the status of the item as it was delivered to the buyer.

In cases where some listed services are provided by some serviceproviders, a client may provide feedback related to the reputationdimensions listed in box 530 including quality of the service provided,cost of the service that was provided to the client, timeliness of theprovision of the services, and the communication of the service providerwith the client. In some example embodiments, the client may beunsatisfied or very satisfied with one or more aspects of a servicereceived. The client may also find some portions of the cost of servicecharged by the service provider, excessive or irrelevant. The client mayinclude these observations in a feedback left for the service provider.

FIG. 6 is a screenshot illustrating an example embodiment of a userinterface 600 including reputation dimensions added to the searchoptions. The user interface 600 may represent an example user interfacepresented to the user 110 by the user interface module 210. In theexample user interface 600, the user 110 is searching for an Apple iPodMP3 player. The user interface 600 may include a search option box 610and a list view portion 670.

The user 110 may select from the options provided in the search optionbox 610 to limit his or her search to specific items. The search engine250 may use the selected options to find objects of interest to the user110. The user interface module 210 then may present the results underthe list view 670 of the user interface 600. In the example embodimentshown in FIG. 6, the list view 670 includes number of bids, price, andshipping cost.

The example search option box 610 may include a “show only” portion 620.Only search objects satisfying the conditions listed in the show onlyportion 620 may be listed under the list view 670. The show only portion620 of the search option box 610 in the example user interface 600,includes a first reputation dimension 630 (R.D. 1) and a secondreputation dimension 640 (R.D. 2)

Under the first reputation dimension 630 (e.g., shipping and handling),a list box 650 may be included to show the selections of attributes(e.g., feedback ratings such as 3, 4, 5, >3, etc.) related to the firstreputation dimension 630. The user 110 may select, from the list box650, the desired attributes of the first reputation dimension 630 thathe or she may desire to be included in the search of the object. Alist-box 660, shown under the second reputation dimension 640 (e.g.,negative feedback ratings), may provide the user 110 with a list ofattributes (e.g., <20%, <10%, <5%, etc.) related to the secondreputation dimension 640 that the user may select from. The selection offirst and second reputation dimensions 630 and 640 may affect the searchresults generated by the search engine 250 as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a screenshot illustrating an example embodiment of a userinterface 700, including reputation dimensions in the search options anddisplaying search results sorted based on selected reputationdimensions. According to the example user interface 700, the user 110has selected both the first and the second reputation dimensions 630 and640 to be included as the search criteria for an Apple iPod.

The selections of the first reputation dimension 630 and the secondreputation dimension 640 are reflected in the search results byincluding R.D. 1 and R.D. 2 as columns 720 and 740 of the list view 670.According to the example user interface 700, the user 110 has selectedthe shown attribute of greater than 3 (>3) from the list-box 650 as aselected attribute of the selected first reputation dimension 630. Also,by selecting the second reputation dimension 640 and the attribute valueof less than 5 percent from the list-box 660, the user 110 may haverequested that only the Apple iPods having the qualificationscorresponding to the selections be shown in the search result.

Accordingly, only two of the Apple iPods presented in FIG. 6 have beenselected to be included in the listed view of the user interface 700.For both of the included Apple iPods, the value of the first reputationdimension 630 in column 720 is higher than 3 (e.g., 4 and 5); and bothof these iPods are showing values of the second reputation dimension 640(column 740) less than 5% (e.g., 4% and 1%). In some exampleembodiments, the first and the second reputation dimensions 630 and 640may include any of the reputation dimensions listed in FIG. 5 (e.g.,shipping and handling, listing description, timeliness, communications,etc.).

FIG. 8 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an example embodimentof a network-based publication system 800, having a client-serverarchitecture for performing search using multifaceted reputationinformation. A publication platform, in the example form of anetwork-based marketplace 802, provides server-side functionality, via anetwork 180 (e.g., the Internet) to one or more clients. FIG. 8illustrates, for example, a web client 806 (e.g., a browser, such as theINTERNET EXPLORER browser developed by MICROSOFT CORPORATION of Redmond,Wash.), and a programmatic client 808 executing on respective clientmachines 810 and 812.

Turning specifically to the network-based marketplace 802, anApplication Program Interface (API) server 814 and a web server 816 arecoupled to, and provide programmatic and web interfaces respectively to,one or more application servers 818. The application servers 818 hostone or more marketplace applications 820 and multifaceted searchapplications 822. The application servers 818 are, in turn, shown to becoupled to one or more database servers 824 that facilitate access toone or more databases 826.

The marketplace applications 820 provide a number of marketplacefunctions and services to users that access the marketplace 802. Themultifaceted search applications 822 facilitates online search forobjects using reputation dimensions as part of the search query.

Further, while the system 800 shown in FIG. 8 employs a client-serverarchitecture, the present application is of course not limited to suchan architecture, and could equally well find application in adistributed, or peer-to-peer, architecture system. The variousmarketplace and multifaceted search applications 820 and 822 may also beimplemented as standalone software programs, which do not necessarilyhave networking capabilities.

The web client 806, it will be appreciated, may access the variousmarketplace and multifaceted search applications 820 and 822 via the webinterface supported by the web server 816. Similarly, the programmaticclient 808 accesses the various services and functions provided by themarketplace and multifaceted search applications 820 and 822 via theprogrammatic interface provided by the API server 814. The programmaticclient 808 may, for example, be a seller application (e.g., theTurboLister application developed by EBAY INC., of San Jose, Calif.) toenable sellers to author and manage listings on the marketplace 802 inan off-line manner, and to perform batch-mode communications between theprogrammatic client 808 and the network-based marketplace 802.

FIG. 8 also illustrates a third party application 828, executing on athird party server machine 830, as having programmatic access to thenetwork-based marketplace 802 via the programmatic interface provided bythe API server 814. For example, the third party application 828 may,utilizing information retrieved from the network-based marketplace 802,support one or more features or functions on a website hosted by thethird party. The third party website may, for example, provide one ormore promotional, marketplace or payment functions that are supported bythe relevant applications of the network-based marketplace 802.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating multiple example marketplace andmultifaceted search applications 900 that, in one example embodiment,are provided as part of the network-based marketplace 802. Themarketplace 802 may provide a number of listing and price-settingmechanisms whereby a seller may list goods or services for sale, a buyermay express interest in or indicate a desire to purchase such goods orservices, and a price may be set for a transaction pertaining to thegoods or services.

The marketplace applications 820 are shown to include one or moreauction applications 902 which support auction-format listing and pricesetting mechanisms (e.g., English, Dutch, Vickrey, Chinese, Double,Reverse auctions etc.). The various auction applications 902 may alsoprovide a number of features in support of such auction-format listings,such as a reserve price feature whereby a seller may specify a reserveprice in connection with a listing and a proxy-bidding feature whereby abidder may invoke automated proxy bidding.

A number of fixed-price applications 904 support fixed-price listingformats (e.g., the traditional classified advertisement-type listing ora catalogue listing) and buyout-type listings. Specifically, buyout-typelistings (e.g., including the Buy-It-Now (BIN) technology developed byeBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.) may be offered in conjunction with anauction-format listing, and allow a buyer to purchase goods or services,which are also being offered for sale via an auction, for a fixed-pricethat is typically higher than the starting price of the auction.

Reputation applications 906 may allow parties that transact utilizingthe network-based marketplace 802 to establish, build, and maintainreputations related to market participants (e.g., sellers, buyers,service providers, or clients) which may be published and made availableto potential trading partners. Consider that where, for example, thenetwork-based marketplace 802 supports person-to-person trading, usersmay have no history or other reference information whereby thetrustworthiness and credibility of potential trading partners may beassessed. The reputation applications 906 may allow a user, for examplethrough feedback provided by other transaction partners, to establish areputation within the network-based marketplace 802 over time. Otherpotential trading partners may then reference such a reputation for thepurposes of assessing credibility and trustworthiness.

Listing creation applications 910 may allow sellers or service providersto conveniently author listings pertaining to goods or services thatthey wish to sell via the marketplace 802.

Dispute resolution applications 914 may provide mechanisms wherebydisputes arising between transacting parties may be resolved. Forexample, the dispute resolution applications 914 may provide guidedprocedures whereby the parties are guided through a number of steps inan attempt to settle a dispute. In the event that the dispute cannot besettled via the guided procedures, the dispute may be escalated to athird party mediator or arbitrator.

Feedback analysis applications 912 may allow the network-basedmarketplace 802 to analyze feedback information received by thereputation applications 906 and make assessments with respect toperformances of the trading parties. The feedback analysis applications912 may provide attributes (e.g., rankings, percentages, comments, etc.)related to reputation dimensions (e.g., overall feedback rating,feedback ratings on cost of shipping, timeliness, communication, qualityof advertisements, quality of listing descriptions, quality ofpackaging, quality of services provided, and the like). These attributesmay be used by sorting applications 916 to sort search results generatedby search applications 922.

As part of the multifaceted search applications 822, search applications922 may facilitate searching objects using reputation dimensions fromreputation applications 906 and attributes related to the reputationdimensions provided by the feedback analysis applications 912, as partof their search query. The search results may be provided to sortingapplications 916 for sorting.

The sorting applications 916 may obtain the search results provided bythe search applications 922 and sort the results based on the selectedattributes related to reputation dimensions of interest to the user. Forexample a user may desire to sort found objects based on feedbackratings on timeliness of sellers of found objects. For example, the usermay select that only objects offered by sellers who have timelinessrating score higher than 6 be displayed. The sorting applications 916,then may sort the search results according to the seller's timelinessranting score and only list those objects for which the sellers havetimeliness scores better than 6. The sorting applications 916 may thensend the listed objects to user interface applications 924 to bedisplayed to the user.

Messaging applications 920 are responsible for the generation anddelivery of messages to users of the network-based marketplace 802. Suchmessages may, for example, advise users regarding the status of listingsat the network-based marketplace 802 (e.g., providing “outbid” noticesto bidders during an auction process or providing promotional andmerchandising information to users). In one example embodiment, themessaging applications 920 may notify a user, when an entity (e.g.,seller, buyer, service provider, or client) associated with a searchedobject has transgressed a predefined threshold related to an attributeof a reputation dimension other than the ones selected by the user as asearch query (e.g., the user has selected the shipping cost as thesearch criteria but among the found objects, there are ones offered bysellers who have more than 35% late delivery of sold items. In thiscase, the messaging applications may notify the user of such instancesif the predefined threshold is 20%)

Example Machine Architecture

FIG. 10 is a block diagram, illustrating a diagrammatic representationof machine 1000 in the example form of a computer system within which aset of instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or moreof the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. In alternativeembodiments, the machine 1000 may operate as a standalone device or maybe connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine 1000 may operate in the capacity of a server ora client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine 1000 may be a server computer, a client computer, a personalcomputer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a networkrouter, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated,the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection ofmachines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets)of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The example computer system 1000 may include a processor 1060 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) orboth), a main memory 1070 and a static memory 1080, all of whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 1008. The computer system 1000 mayfurther include a video display unit 1010 (e.g., liquid crystal displays(LCD) or cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 1000 also mayinclude an alphanumeric input device 1020 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursorcontrol device 1030 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1040, a signalgeneration device 1050 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device1090.

The disk drive unit 1040 may include a machine-readable medium 1022 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 1024)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. The software 1024 may also reside, completely or at leastpartially, within the main memory 1070 and/or within the processor 1060during execution thereof by the computer system 1000, the main memory1070 and the processor 1060 also constituting machine-readable media.

The software 1024 may further be transmitted or received over a network280 via the network interface device 1090.

While the machine-readable medium 1022 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to,solid-state memories and optical and magnetic media.

Thus, a method and a system for searching for objects using reputationdimensions and their attributes as part of search query have beendescribed. Although the present invention has been described withreference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident thatvarious modifications and changes may be made to these embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it may be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

1. A method comprising: presenting a plurality of reputation dimensionsto a user; presenting a plurality of attributes related to each of theplurality of reputation dimensions to the user; detecting a userselection of a selected reputation dimension of the plurality ofreputation dimensions and a selected attribute related to the selectedreputation dimension; including the selected attribute related to theselected reputation dimension as a criterion part of a search query; andconducting a search of a database of objects using the search query togenerate search results.
 2. The method of claim 1, comprising sortingthe search results, using the selected reputation dimension; anddisplaying the sorted search results.
 3. The method of claim 2,comprising providing a notification message when an attribute of areputation dimension other than the selected reputation dimensiontransgresses a threshold.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectedreputation dimension includes transaction participation aspects forwhich feedback information is stored in a database.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the selected attribute related to the selectedreputation dimension includes feedback ratings and commentscorresponding to the selected reputation dimension.
 6. The method ofclaim 4, comprising receiving detailed feedback ratings by requesting afeedback giver to respond to specific questions relating to certaintransaction participation aspects.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of reputation dimensions include reputation dimensions relatedto a marketplace participant.
 8. The method of claim 1, comprising usingthe criterion part of the search query to filter the database of objectsin order to limit a number of objects included in the search results. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attributes related toeach of the plurality of reputation dimensions include feedback ratings.10. A system comprising: a user interface module to present a pluralityof reputation dimensions to a user, and to present a plurality ofattributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensions tothe user; a detection module to detect a user selection of a selectedreputation dimension of the plurality of reputation dimensions and aselected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension; adatabase to maintain data related to a plurality of objects andreputation information; and a search engine to include the selectedattribute related to the selected reputation dimension as a criterionpart of a search query, and to conduct a search of the database usingthe search query to generate search results.
 11. The system of claim 10,comprising a sort module to sort the search results, using the selectedreputation dimension.
 12. The system of claim 11, comprising anotification module to provide a notification message when an attributeof a reputation dimension other than the selected reputation dimensiontransgresses a threshold.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the userinterface module is to display the sorted search results.
 14. The systemof claim 10, wherein the database is to maintain the reputationdimension including transaction participation aspects for which feedbackinformation is stored in the database.
 15. The system of claim 10,wherein the detection module is to detect the selected attribute relatedto the selected reputation dimension including feedback ratings andcomments corresponding to the reputation dimension.
 16. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the user interface module is to receive detailedfeedback ratings by requesting a feedback giver to respond to specificquestions relating to certain transaction participation aspects.
 17. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the user interface module is to present theplurality of reputation dimensions including reputation dimensionsrelated to a marketplace participant.
 18. The system of claim 10,wherein the search engine is to use the criterion part of the searchquery to filter the database of objects in order to limit a number ofobjects included in the search results.
 19. The system of claim 10,wherein the user interface module is to present the plurality ofattributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensionsincluding feedback ratings.
 20. A system comprising: means forpresenting a plurality of reputation dimensions to a user; means forpresenting a plurality of attributes related to each of the plurality ofreputation dimensions to the user; means for detecting a user selectionof a selected reputation dimension of the plurality of reputationdimensions and a selected attribute related to the selected reputationdimension; means for including the selected attribute related to theselected reputation dimension as a criterion part of a search query; andmeans for conducting a search of a database of objects using the searchquery to generate search results.
 21. The system of claim 20, comprisingmeans sorting the search results, using the selected reputationdimension; and displaying the sorted search results.
 22. The system ofclaim 20, comprising providing a notification message when an attributeof a reputation dimension other than the selected reputation dimensiontransgresses a threshold.
 23. A machine-readable medium comprisinginstructions, which when implemented by one or more processors performthe following operations: presenting a plurality of reputationdimensions to a user; presenting a plurality of attributes related toeach of the plurality of reputation dimensions to the user; detecting auser selection of a selected reputation dimension of the plurality ofreputation dimensions and a selected attribute related to the selectedreputation dimension; including the selected attribute related to theselected reputation dimension as a criterion part of a search query; andconducting a search of a database of objects using the search query togenerate search results.
 24. The machine-readable medium of claim 23,comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or moreprocessors sort the search results, using the selected reputationdimension; and displaying the sorted search results.
 25. Themachine-readable medium of claim 23, comprising instructions, which whenimplemented by one or more processors provide a notification messagewhen an attribute of a reputation dimension other than the selectedreputation dimension transgresses a threshold.